Archive

Research Nut: Hazelnuts

Tree nut snack consumption is associated with better diet quality and CVD risk in the UK adult population: National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) 2008–2014.

Dikariyanto, V., S.E. Berry, G.K. Pot, L. Francis, L. Smith, W.L. Hall, 2020. Tree nut snack consumption is associated with better diet quality and CVD risk in the UK adult population: National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) 2008–2014. Public Health Nutrition. 23(17), 3160–3169.

Objectives: To examine associations of tree nut snack (TNS) consumption with diet quality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in UK adults from National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) 2008–2014. Design: Cross-sectional analysis using data from 4-d food diaries, blood samples and physical measurements for CVD risk markers. To estimate diet quality, modified Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) and modified Healthy Diet Score (HDS) were applied. Associations of TNS consumption with diet quality and markers of CVD risk were investigated using survey-adjusted multivariable linear regression adjusted for sex, age, ethnicity, socio-economic and smoking status, region of residency and total energy and alcohol intake. Setting: UK free-living population. Subjects: 4738 adults (≥19 years). Results: TNS consumers had higher modified MDS and HDS relative to non-consumers. TNS consumers also had lower BMI, WC, SBP and DBP and higher HDL compared to non-consumers, although a dose-related fully adjusted significant association between increasing nut intake (g per 4184 kJ/1000 kcal energy intake) and lower marker of CVD risk was only observed for SBP. TNS consumption was also associated with higher intake of total fat, mono-, n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, fibre, vitamin A, thiamin, folate, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium and iron; and lower intake of saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, total carbohydrate, starch, free sugar, sodium and chloride. Conclusions: TNS consumers report better dietary quality and consumption was associated with lower CVD risk factors. Encouraging replacement of less healthy snacks with TNS should be encouraged as part of general dietary guidelines.

Nut consumption and risk of cancer: A meta-analysis of prospective studies.

Long, J., Z. Ji, P. Yuan, T. Long, K. Liu, J. Li, L. Cheng, 2020. Nut consumption and risk of cancer: A meta-analysis of prospective studies. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-19-1167.

Background: Epidemiologic studies have investigated the association between nut intake and risk for multiple cancers. However, current findings are inconsistent and no definite conclusion has been drawn from prospective studies. We therefore conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between nut consumption and risk of cancer. Methods: Prospective studies reporting associations between nut intake and risk for all types of cancer were identified by searching Web of Science and PubMed databases up to June 2019. Risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were extracted and then pooled across the studies using a random-effect model. A dose–response analysis was modeled by performing restricted cubic splines when data were available. Results: Thirty-three studies that included more than 50,000 cancer cases were eligible for the analysis. When comparing the highest with the lowest category of nut intake, high consumption of nuts was significantly associated with decreased risk of overall cancer (RR= 0.90; 95% CI, 0.85–0.95). The protective effect of nut consumption was especially apparent against cancers from the digestive system (RR=0.83; 95% CI, 0.77–0.89). Among different nut classes, significant association was only obtained for intake of tree nuts. We also observed a linear dose–response relationship between nut consumption and cancer: Per 20 g/day increase in nut consumption was related to a 10% (RR=0.90; 95% CI, 0.82–0.99) decrease in cancer risk. Conclusions: Our analysis demonstrated an inverse association of dietary nut consumption with cancer risk, especially for cancers from the digestive system. Impact: This study highlights the protective effect of nuts against cancer.

Association of total nut, tree nut, peanut, and peanut butter consumption with cancer incidence and mortality: A comprehensive systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies.

Naghshi, S., M. Sadeghian, M. Nasiri, S. Mobarak, M. Asadi, O. Sadeghi, 2020. Association of total nut, tree nut, peanut, and peanut butter consumption with cancer incidence and mortality: A comprehensive systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies. Adv Nutr. 0:1–16.

Data on the association of nut intake with risk of cancer and its mortality are conflicting. Although previous meta-analyses summarized available findings in this regard, some limitations may distort their findings. Moreover, none of these meta-analyses examined the dose-response associations of total nut intake with the risk of specific cancers as well as associations between specific types of nuts and cancer mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to summarize available findings on the associations of total nut (tree nuts and peanuts), tree nut (walnuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, pecans, cashews, almonds, hazelnuts, and Brazil nuts), peanut (whole peanuts without considering peanut butter), and peanut butter consumption with risk of cancer and its mortality by considering the above-mentioned points. We searched the online databases until March 2020 to identify eligible articles. In total, 43 articles on cancer risk and 9 articles on cancer mortality were included in the current systematic review and meta-analysis. The summary effect size (ES) for risk of cancer, comparing the highest with lowest intakes of total nuts, was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.81, 0.92, P < 0.001, I2 = 58.1%; P < 0.01), indicating a significant inverse association. Such a significant inverse association was also seen for tree nut intake (pooled ES: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.78–0.96, P < 0.01, I2 = 15.8%; P = 0.28). Based on the dose-response analysis, a 5-g/d increase in total nut intake was associated with 3%, 6%, and 25% lower risks of overall, pancreatic, and colon cancers, respectively. In terms of cancer mortality, we found 13%, 18%, and 8% risk reductions with higher intakes of total nuts, tree nuts, and peanuts, respectively. In addition, a 5-g/d increase in total nut intake was associated with a 4% lower risk of cancer mortality. In conclusion, our findings support the protective association between total nut and tree nut intake and the risk of cancer and its mortality.

Metabolic syndrome features and excess weight were inversely associated with nut consumption after 1-year follow-up in the PREDIMED-Plus study.

Julibert, A., M. del Mar Bibiloni, L. Gallardo-Alfaro, M. Abbate, M.Á. Martínez-González, J. Salas-Salvadó, D. Corella, M. Fitó, J.A. Martínez, Á.M. Alonso-Gómez, J. Wärnberg, J. Vioque, D. Romaguera, J. Lopez-Miranda, R. Estruch, F.J. Tinahones, J. Lapetra, L. Serra-Majem, N. Cano-Ibañez, V. Martín-Sánchez, X. Pintó, J.J. Gaforio, P. Matía-Martín, J. Vidal, C. Vázquez, L. Daimiel, E. Ros, C. Sayon-Orea, N. Becerra-Tomás, I.M. Gimenez-Alba, O. Castañer, I. Abete, L. Tojal-Sierra, J. Pérez-López, L. Notario-Barandiaran, A. Colom, A. Garcia-Rios, S. Castro-Barquero, R. Bernal, J.M. Santos-Lozano, C.I. Fernández-Lázaro, P. Hernández-Alonso, C. Saiz, M.D. Zomeño, M.A. Zulet, M.C. Belló-Mora, J. Basterra-Gortari, S. Canudas, A. Goday, J.A. Tur, PREDIMED-PLUS investigators, 2020. Metabolic syndrome features and excess weight were inversely associated with nut consumption after 1-year follow-up in the PREDIMED-Plus study. J Nutr. 00:1–10.

Background: High nut consumption has been previously associated with decreased prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) regardless of race and dietary patterns. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess whether changes in nut consumption over a 1-y follow-up are associated with changes in features of MetS in a middle-aged and older Spanish population at high cardiovascular disease risk. Methods: This prospective 1-y follow-up cohort study, conducted in the framework of the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED)-Plus randomized trial, included 5800 men and women (55-75 y old) with overweight/obesity [BMI (in kg/m2) ≥27 and <40] and MetS. Nut consumption (almonds, pistachios, walnuts, and other nuts) was assessed using data from a validated FFQ. The primary outcome was the change from baseline to 1 y in features of MetS [waist circumference (WC), glycemia, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure] and excess weight (body weight and BMI) according to tertiles of change in nut consumption. Secondary outcomes included changes in dietary and lifestyle characteristics. A generalized linear model was used to compare 1-y changes in features of MetS, weight, dietary intakes, and lifestyle characteristics across tertiles of change in nut consumption. Results: As nut consumption increased, between each tertile there was a significant decrease in WC, TG, systolic blood pressure, weight, and BMI (P < 0.05), and a significant increase in HDL cholesterol (only in women, P = 0.044). The interaction effect between time and group was significant for total energy intake (P < 0.001), adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) (P < 0.001), and nut consumption (P < 0.001). Across tertiles of increasing nut consumption there was a significant increase in extra virgin olive oil intake and adherence to the MedDiet; change in energy intake, on the other hand, was inversely related to consumption of nuts. Conclusions: Features of MetS and excess weight were inversely associated with nut consumption after a 1-y follow-up in the PREDIMED-Plus study cohort. This trial was registered at isrctn.com as ISRCTN89898870.